New reports are emerging today that Sheldon Adelson, casino magnate and 10th richest man in the world, intends to bankroll the campaigns of a number of Republican hawks in 2016, with a particular eye toward foiling Sen. Rand Paul (R – KY) in his White House bid.

Adelson spent some $150 million on Republican candidates in 2012, and the $15 million he gave to Newt Gingrich kept his failed presidential bid going long after it likely would have otherwise.

Money speaks loudly though, and despite Adelson’s policies being far-afield of the mainstream in America, a number of people hoping to be this cycle’s hawk-of-choice have been making trips to Las Vegas to court him.

Adelson’s political interests don’t begin or end with the United States, and he’s been a central figure in the Israeli elections, bankrolling a pro-Netanyahu free newspaper that is said to lose $3 million monthly, as a way to circumvent Israel’s $600 campaign donor limit.

The newspaper has been seen from the start as a mouthpiece for Netanyahu and his allies, and has been harshly critical of pretty much everyone else in Israeli politics. Earlier this week the newspaper published an editorial likening Isaac Herzog, the top candidate to unseat Netanyahu in next month’s election, to Neville Chamberlain, with the implication that President Obama is in the role of Hitler.

While Adelson’s focus over the next few weeks will doubtless be the Israeli election and ensuring that Netanyahu retains power, it seems he is already drawing up plans to more deeply insinuate himself in the US election beyond that.

Politicians are a pretty subservient lot, but the spectacle of some selling themselves-and potentially millions more-to a basically foreign agent is particularly revolting. Is there no shame left in America?

This guy is an example of the type of scum that is in control of the country.
There isn't a dime's bit of difference between the Dems and Repugs. Neither
party is worth a damn. The big loser is the average USG citizen who believes
voting (really) matters.

Everything that is wrong with, and could go wrong with Citizens United ruling is encapsulated in this old, troll-like fanatic for Israel. Guys like him and Haim Saban openly put their queer love for a foreign country over the US. Like we are obligated to please these clowns above all else.
If we aren't going to put scum like this in jail, at least LIMIT THEIR INFLUENCE IN OUR ELECTIONS. I don't think this is an unreasonable request.

Adelson is the latest face of AIPAC. Yeah, these AIPAC folks come both with a Democratic and a GOP costume. They'll wear the appropriate one for whichever ball they're attending. While I have a few probs with Rand Paul as far as foreign policy–he's a lot better than the rest of the ducks in the pond. Our national interests and Israel's national interest are not one and the same. This is the biggest lie that AIPAC puts forward. The old "you're anti-Semitic" bull is old and tired because people are wise enough (hopefully) to know that's a tactic to shut you up. Because of our relations with both the Saudis and the Israelis, our relations with the Iranians have been halted to practically zilch. , Hey, the mullahs are no bargain –but most of the people we've dealt with never possessed a halo. (except if they bought a plastic Chinese one at Walmart.)